As peaceful revolution continues to sweep through
Europe and Latin America, we ought to remember
that even the most just and well-intentioned political
movements can take sudden and irrational-and sometimes very violent-swings.

In the second installment of its lecture series on the
bicentennial of the French Revolution, the Henry
Salvatori Center, in cooperation with the Marian Miner
Cook Athenaeum, turns to consider this darker side of
the greatest of all European revolutions.

On Thursday, April 26, Keith Baker, professor of
history at Stanford University and one of the country's
foremost scholars of 18th century French intellectual
and political life, discusses the significance of the
Revolution's descent into totalitarianism and terror. A
PhD from University College, London, Professor Baker
taught for many years at the University of Chicago
before recently moving to Stanford. He is the author of,
among other important works, Condorcet: From Natural
Philosophy to Social Mathematics (1975) and The Political Culture
of the Old Regime (1987).

Professor Baker's lecture begins at 7:00, following a
reception at 5:30 and dinner at 6:00. Please use the
enclosed coupon to reserve your place.